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Discoverer / Corona
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Discoverer / Corona
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This page contains philatelic information on the Discoverer / Corona-series satellites. Catalog numbers, years of issue, and notes on the satellites featured are given when available. If readers know of additional information or images, please contact the authors using the e-mail addresses at the bottom of this page.
The Discoverer-series, also known as Corona satellites, were later declassified as the first Keyhole (KH) reconnaissance satellites.
Most of the Discoverer-series, also had Keyhole (KH) designations (KH1 thru KH3, plus some KH4 and KH5).
| Launch information (found elsewhere) |
Launch covers (including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers) (farther below or elsewhere) |
Other postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.) (immediately below or elsewhere) |
|---|---|---|
| Discoverer / Corona (ARPA) | Discoverer / Corona (ARPA) | Discoverer / Corona (ARPA) |
| Discoverer (on other than Discoverer launch covers) | ||
| Keyhole (KH) (CIA) | Keyhole (KH) (CIA) | Keyhole (KH) (CIA) |
Below is a list of Discoverer / Corona-series satellite postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.).
| Country | Catalog Number | Type of Item | Year of Issue | Notes on Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discoverer / Corona (ARPA) | ||||
| Batumi | Local_c Local_ic | One of local post MS6 (a-f) One of imperforate local post MS6 (a-f) | 1997 | "Discoverer" capsule recovery |
| Batumi | Local_c o/p1 | One of local post MS6 (a-f) overprinted in gold | 1998 | "Discoverer" capsule recovery |
| Batumi | Local_c o/p2 | One of local post MS6 (a-f) overprinted in silver | ||
| Chad | BL247A BL247B | In (left) margin of SS1 In (left) margin of imperforate SS1 | 1996 | "Discoverer" capsule re-entry (not "Discover" as in the margin text) |
| Germany (West) | None | (Black printed) cachet on cover | 1964 | Discoverer |
| Germany (West) | None | (Black printed) cachet on cover | 1965 | Discoverer |
| Germany (West) | None | Cinderella (poster stamp), one of MS30 cinderella | ~1966 | "Discoverer-1" |
| Madagascar | 1502a (BL_E208, Mi2398) | In (lower) margin of SS1 (1502) | 1999 | Discoverer capsule recovery |
| Niger | 1071b (Mi1884A) i1071b (Mi1884B) | One of MS4 (1071 (a-d)) (Mi1883A-1886A) One of imperforate MS4 (i1071 (a-d)) | 2001 | "Discoverer-13 capsule" |
| United States | None | Postcard back, also front | 1970 | "Discoverer-II rocket" launch; also "Discoverer-VI was launched on August 8, 1959" (in text, but the actual Discoverer-6 launch date was Aug 19, 1959) |
Below is a list of Discoverer / Corona-series satellite launch covers (including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers).
| Country | Cancel Date | Cancel Location | Type of Item | Notes on Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discoverer / Corona (ARPA) | ||||
| 1959-02-28: Discoverer-1 | ||||
| United States | 1959-02-28 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Palmer? printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-1 launch |
| United States | 1959-02-28 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-1 launch |
| United States | 1959-02-28 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (H. Flick) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-1 launch |
| United States | 1959-02-28 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-1 launch (but Vanguard-2 depicted) |
| United States | 1959-02-28 | UNO, VA | (UN) cachet on cover | Discoverer-1 launch |
| Discoverer-1 (anniversaries) | ||||
| United States | 2014-02-28 | Sagamore Beach MA | (Coverscape) cachet on cover | 55th anniv. Discoverer-1 launch |
| 1959-02-28: Discoverer-2 | ||||
| United States | 1959-04-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (H. Flick) cachet on cover | Discoverer-2 launch |
| United States | 1959-04-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-2 launch (but Vanguard-2 depicted) |
| United States | 1959-04-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Howard Farley) cachet on cover | Discoverer-2 launch |
| United States | 1959-04-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Swanson (color?) rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-2 launch |
| United States | 1959-04-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Sarzin) cachet on cover | Discoverer-2 launch |
| Discoverer-2 (anniversaries) | ||||
| United States | 2009-04-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Mission 57) cachet on cover, also back | 50th anniv. Discoverer-2 launch |
| 1959-06-03: Discoverer-3 [failed] | ||||
| United States | 1959-06-03 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-3 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1959-06-03 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-3 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1959-06-03 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (H. Flick) cachet on cover, also back | Discoverer-3 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1959-06-03 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (H. Flick) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-3 launch [failed] |
| 1959-06-25: Discoverer-4 / KH1-1 [failed] | ||||
| United States | 1959-06-25 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover, also back | Discoverer-4 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1959-06-25 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue rubber-stamp) cachet on (no.10 gift-shop) cover | Discoverer-4 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1959-06-25 | Lompoc CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-4 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1959-06-25 | Lompoc CA | (Holden blank) cachet on cover | Discoverer-4 launch [failed] |
| 1959-08-13: Discoverer-5 / KH1-2 | ||||
| United States | 1959-08-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-5 launch |
| United States | 1959-08-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-5 launch |
| 1959-08-19: Discoverer-6 / KH1-3 | ||||
| United States | 1959-08-19 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red rubber-stamp) cachet on (no.10 gift-shop) cover | Discoverer-6 launch |
| United States | 1959-08-19 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple rubber-stamp) cachet on (no.10 gift-shop) cover | Discoverer-6 launch |
| 1959-11-07: Discoverer-7 / KH1-4 | ||||
| United States | 1959-11-07 (year missing) | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Zaso printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-7 launch |
| United States | 1959-11-07 (year missing) | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-7 launch (but Vanguard-2 depicted) |
| United States | 1959-11-07 (year added) | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover, also back | Discoverer-7 launch |
| 1959-11-20: Discoverer-8 / KH1-5 | ||||
| United States | 1959-11-20 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-8 launch (but Explorer-6/Pioneer-5 depicted)1 |
| 1960-02-04: Discoverer-9 / KH1-6 [failed] | ||||
| No launch cover images available yet | ||||
| 1960-02-19: Discoverer-10 / KH1-7 | ||||
| No launch covers are known to exist! | ||||
| 1960-04-15: Discoverer-11 / KH1-8 | ||||
| United States | 1960-04-15 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets blue) cachet on cover | Discoverer-11 launch (but Explorer-6/Pioneer-5 depicted)1 |
| United States | 1960-04-15 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets black) cachet on cover | Discoverer-11 launch (but Explorer-6/Pioneer-5 depicted)1 |
| United States | 1960-04-15 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Zaso printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-11 launch |
| 1960-06-29: Discoverer-12 [failed] | ||||
| United States | 1960-06-29 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-12 launch [failed] |
| 1960-08-10: Discoverer-13 (included SocTop-1/AftRack-1 payload)2 | ||||
| United States | 1960-08-10 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets/Space Age Cover) cachet on cover | Discoverer-13 launch |
| United States | 1960-08-10 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Zaso?) cachet on cover | Discoverer-13 launch |
| United States | 1960-08-10 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue rubber-stamp and black typed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-13 launch |
| United States | 1960-08-10 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-13 launch |
| United States | 1960-08-10 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Black printed, purple rubber-stamp on back) cachet on (airmail) cover, also back | Discoverer-13 launch |
| Discoverer-13 (events) | ||||
| United States | 1960-08-11 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-13 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1960-08-11 | Port Canaveral FL | (Red and blue printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-13 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1960-08-11 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-13 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1960-08-11 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet (slightly different) on cover | Discoverer-13 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1960-08-11 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-13 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1960-08-11 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-13 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1960-08-11 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (blank/no, purple rubber-stamp on back) cachet on (airmail) cover, also back | Discoverer-13 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1960-08-11 | Edwards CA, Rocket Test Site Branch | (Red and blue printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-13 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1960-08-11 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Sokalsky purple) cachet on cover | Discoverer-13 capsule recovery |
| 1960-08-18: Discoverer-14 / KH1-9 | ||||
| United States | 1960-08-18 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-14 launch |
| United States | 1960-08-18 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-14 launch |
| United States | 1960-08-18 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue rubber-stamp and black typed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-14 launch |
| United States | 1960-08-18 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-14 launch |
| United States | 1960-08-18 | Port Canaveral FL | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-14 launch |
| United States | 1960-08-18 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-14 launch |
| Discoverer-14 (events) | ||||
| United States | 1960-08-19 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-14 air-snatch capsule recovery |
| United States | 1960-08-19 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover, also back | Discoverer-14 air-snatch capsule recovery |
| United States | 1960-08-19 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-14 air-snatch capsule recovery |
| United States | 1960-08-19 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-14 air-snatch capsule recovery |
| Discoverer-14 (anniversaries) | ||||
| United States | 1980-08-18 | Honolulu HI | (MoF no.91) cachet on cover | 20th anniv. Discoverer-14 capsule recovery |
| 1960-09-13: Discoverer-15 / KH1-10 (included SocTop-2/AftRack-2 payload)2 | ||||
| United States | 1960-09-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-15 launch |
| United States | 1960-09-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-15 launch |
| United States | 1960-09-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple rubber-stamp and black typed) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-15 launch |
| United States | 1960-09-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple rubber-stamp and hand-printed) cachet on (airmail) cover, also back | Discoverer-15 launch |
| United States | 1960-09-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover (different) | Discoverer-15 launch |
| United States | 1960-09-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black rubber-stamp and hand-printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-15 launch ("'sky spy' gear capsule" refers to the AftRack-2 payload)2 |
| United States | 1960-09-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue rubber-stamp and black typed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-15 launch |
| United States | 1960-09-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft) cachet on cover | Discoverer-15 launch |
| United States | 1960-09-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Zaso) cachet on cover | Discoverer-15 launch |
| 1960-10-26: Discoverer-16 / KH2-1 [failed] | ||||
| United States | 1960-10-26 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-16 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1960-10-26 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue rubber-stamp and black typed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-16 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1960-10-26 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-16 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1960-10-26 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue rubber-stamp) cachet (different) on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-16 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1960-10-26 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft) cachet on cover | Discoverer-16 launch [failed] |
| 1960-11-12: Discoverer-17 / KH2-2 | ||||
| United States | 1960-11-12 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-17 launch |
| United States | 1960-11-12 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black rubber-stamp and black typed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-17 launch |
| United States | 1960-11-12 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-17 launch |
| United States | 1960-11-12 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and blue rubber-stamp) cachet (and signature) on (airmail) cover, also back | Discoverer-17 launch |
| United States | 1960-11-12 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-17 launch (but Vanguard-2 depicted) |
| United States | 1960-11-12 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Black and orange printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-17 launch |
| United States | 1960-11-12 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-17 launch |
| Discoverer-17 (events) | ||||
| United States | 1960-11-14 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-17 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1960-11-14 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-17 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1960-11-14 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue rubber-stamp and hand-printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-17 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1960-11-14 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-17 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1960-11-15 | Sunnyvale CA | (Purple rubber-stamp) cachet on (flown) cover, also enclosed letter | Discoverer-17 capsule recovery |
| 1960-12-07: Discoverer-18 / KH2-3 | ||||
| United States | 1960-12-07 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-18 launch |
| United States | 1960-12-07 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue and purple rubber-stamp and black typed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-18 launch |
| United States | 1960-12-07 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-18 launch |
| United States | 1960-12-07 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Multi-color printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-18 launch ("SAMOS" in text); ("spy-in-the-sky") |
| United States | 1960-12-07 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-18 launch |
| United States | 1960-12-07 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft) cachet on cover | Discoverer-18 launch (but Pioneer-5/Explorer-6 depicted) |
| United States | 1960-12-07 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Black typed) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-18 launch |
| Discoverer-18 (events) | ||||
| United States | 1960-12-10 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-18 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1960-12-10 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-18 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1960-12-10 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-18 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1960-12-10 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (HF) cachet on cover, also insert | Discoverer-18 capsule recovery ("sky spy") |
| United States | 1960-12-10 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft) cachet on cover | Discoverer-18 capsule recovery |
| 1960-12-20: Discoverer-19 / RM-1 | ||||
| United States | 1960-12-20 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-19 launch |
| United States | 1960-12-20 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Multi-color printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-19 launch ("MIDAS" in text) |
| United States | 1960-12-20 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Black printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-19 launch ("MIDAS" in text) |
| United States | 1960-12-20 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Brown and black printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-19 launch ("MIDAS" in text) |
| United States | 1960-12-20 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Black printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-19 launch |
| 1961-02-17: Discoverer-20 / KH5-1 | ||||
| United States | 1961-02-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-20 launch |
| United States | 1961-02-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black rubber-stamp and hand-written) cachet on cover | Discoverer-20 launch |
| United States | 1961-02-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-20 launch |
| United States | 1961-02-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Black printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-20 launch |
| United States | 1961-02-17? | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Vandy? blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-20 launch |
| United States | 1961-02-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-20 launch |
| 1961-02-18: Discoverer-21 / RM-2 | ||||
| United States | 1961-02-18 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-21 launch |
| United States | 1961-02-18 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-21 launch |
| United States | 1961-02-18 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Black and orange printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-21 launch; (also "Discoverer-19" and "MIDAS" in text) |
| United States | 1961-02-18 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-21 launch; (but Mercury boilerplate capsule depicted) |
| 1961-03-30: Discoverer-22 / KH2-4 [failed] | ||||
| United States | 1961-03-30 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-22 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1961-03-30 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-22 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1961-03-30 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black rubber-stamp and hand-printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-22 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1961-03-30 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue and black rubber-stamp and red printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-22 launch [failed] |
| 1961-04-08: Discoverer-23 / KH5-2 | ||||
| United States | 1961-04-08 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-23 launch |
| United States | 1961-04-08 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-23 launch |
| United States | 1961-04-08 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-23 launch |
| United States | 1961-04-08 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-23 launch |
| United States | 1961-04-08 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Sarzin) cachet on cover | Discoverer-23 launch |
| United States | 1961-04-08 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Blue printed and blue hand-printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-23 launch |
| 1961-06-08: Discoverer-24 / KH5-3 [failed] | ||||
| United States | 1961-06-08 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-24 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1961-06-08 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and black rubber-stamp) cachet (slightly different print as well) on cover | Discoverer-24 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1961-06-08 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-24 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1961-06-08 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-24 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1961-06-08 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-24 launch [failed] |
| 1961-06-16: Discoverer-25 / KH2-5 | ||||
| United States | 1961-06-16 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-25 launch |
| United States | 1961-06-16 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-25 launch |
| United States | 1961-06-16 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-25 launch |
| United States | 1961-06-16 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-25 launch |
| United States | 1961-06-16 (2 cancels) | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-25 launch |
| United States | 1961-06-16 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets "Space Age Cover" and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-25 launch |
| Discoverer-25 (events) | ||||
| United States | 1961-06-19 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-25 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-06-19 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-25 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-06-19 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-25 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-06-19 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-25 capsule recovery |
| 1961-07-07: Discoverer-26 / KH2-6 | ||||
| United States | 1961-07-07 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-26 launch |
| United States | 1961-07-07 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-26 launch |
| United States | 1961-07-07 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-26 launch |
| United States | 1961-07-07 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-26 launch |
| Discoverer-26 (events) | ||||
| United States | 1961-07-10 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-26 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-07-10 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-26 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-07-10 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-26 capsule recovery |
| 1961-07-22: Discoverer-27 / KH5-4 [failed] | ||||
| United States | 1961-07-21 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-27 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1961-07-21 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden navy blue and green rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-27 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1961-07-21 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and green rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-27 launch [failed] |
| 1961-08-03: Discoverer-28 / KH2-7 [failed] | ||||
| United States | 1961-08-03 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-28 launch [failed] (but Vanguard-2 depicted) |
| United States | 1961-08-03 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-28 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1961-08-03 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-28 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1961-08-03 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden navy blue and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-28 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1961-08-03 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-28 launch [failed] |
| 1961-08-30: Discoverer-29 / KH3-1 | ||||
| United States | 1961-08-30 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-29 launch |
| United States | 1961-08-30 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden green and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-29 launch |
| United States | 1961-08-30 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-29 launch |
| Discoverer-29 (events) | ||||
| United States | 1961-09-02 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-29 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-09-02 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-29 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-09-02 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-29 capsule recovery |
| 1961-09-12: Discoverer-30 / KH3-2 | ||||
| United States | 1961-09-12 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and green rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-30 launch |
| United States | 1961-09-12 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple and green rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-30 launch |
| United States | 1961-09-12 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple and green rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover (different type) | Discoverer-30 launch |
| United States | 1961-09-12 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue and green rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-30 launch |
| United States | 1961-09-12 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple and green rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-30 launch |
| United States | 1961-09-12 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple and green rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-30 launch |
| United States | 1961-09-12 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-30 launch (but Mercury boilerplate capsule depicted) |
| Discoverer-30 (events) | ||||
| United States | 1961-09-14 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-30 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-09-14 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-30 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-09-14 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue-green rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-30 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-09-14 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue-black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-30 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-09-14 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-30 capsule recovery |
| 1961-09-17: Discoverer-31 / KH3-3 | ||||
| United States | 1961-09-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-31 launch |
| United States | 1961-09-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-31 launch |
| United States | 1961-09-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-31 launch |
| United States | 1961-09-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-31 launch |
| United States | 1961-09-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Vandy? blue rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-31 launch |
| 1961-10-13: Discoverer-32 / KH3-4 | ||||
| United States | 1961-10-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-32 launch |
| United States | 1961-10-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and purple rubber-stamp) cachet (slightly different) on cover | Discoverer-32 launch |
| United States | 1961-10-13 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-32 launch |
| Discoverer-32 (events) | ||||
| United States | 1961-10-16 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-32 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-10-16 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-32 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-10-16 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-32 capsule recovery |
| 1961-10-23: Discoverer-33 / KH3-5 [failed] | ||||
| United States | 1961-10-23 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-33 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1961-10-23 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-33 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1961-10-23 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and purple) cachet on cover | Discoverer-33 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1961-10-23 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (blank/no) cachet (cancel only) on cover | Discoverer-33 launch [failed] |
| 1961-11-05: Discoverer-34 / KH3-6 | ||||
| United States | 1961-11-05 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Sarzin) cachet on cover | Discoverer-34 launch |
| United States | 1961-11-05 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and green rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-34 launch |
| United States | 1961-11-05 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-34 launch |
| 1961-11-15: Discoverer-35 / KH3-7 | ||||
| United States | 1961-11-15 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-35 launch |
| United States | 1961-11-15 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-35 launch (but Mercury boilerplate capsule depicted) |
| United States | 1961-11-15 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Sarzin) cachet on cover | Discoverer-35 launch (the capsule recovery mentioned in the cachet took place on 16 Nov, which contradicts the 15 Nov cancel date) |
| Discoverer-35 (events) | ||||
| United States | 1961-11-16 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and green rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-35 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-11-16 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue and green rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-35 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-11-16 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple and green rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-35 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-11-16 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and green rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-35 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-11-16 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and green rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-35 capsule recovery |
| 1961-12-12: Discoverer-36 / KH3-8 (and OSCAR-1) | ||||
| United States | 1961-12-12 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-36 launch |
| United States | 1961-12-12 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-36 launch |
| United States | 1961-12-12 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue-green and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-36 launch |
| United States | 1961-12-12 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple and magenta rubber-stamp and red printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-36 launch |
| Discoverer-36 (events) | ||||
| United States | 1961-12-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-36 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-12-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden purple rubber-stamp and hand-printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-36 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-12-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-36 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-12-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-36 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1961-12-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Photo and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-36 capsule recovery |
| 1962-01-13: Discoverer-37 / KH3-9 [failed] | ||||
| United States | 1962-01-15 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-37 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1962-01-15 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-37 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1962-01-15 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden blue and magenta rubber-stamp and red printed) cachet on cover | Discoverer-37 launch [failed] |
| United States | 1962-01-15 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Goldcraft Cachets) cachet on cover | Discoverer-37 launch [failed] (but Mercury boilerplate capsule depicted) |
| 1962-02-27: Discoverer-38 / KH4-1 | ||||
| United States | 1962-02-27 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-38 launch |
| United States | 1962-02-27 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red rubber-stamp) cachet on (airmail) cover | Discoverer-38 launch |
| United States | 1962-02-27 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden red printed and blue and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-38 launch |
| Discoverer-38 (events) | ||||
| United States | 1962-03-03 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-38 capsule recovery |
| United States | 1962-03-03 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-38 capsule recovery |
| 1962-04-18: Discoverer-39 (KH4-2) | ||||
| United States | 1962-04-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Sarzin) cachet on cover | Discoverer-39 launch ("highly classified secret satellite") |
| United States | 1962-04-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-39 launch (the date "17" in the cancel is readable, in its original font) |
| United States | 1962-04-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-39 launch (but the date "17" in the cancel is mostly missing; see the next entry for the same cover except repaired, with the "17" added in a bigger font) |
| United States | 1962-04-17 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover | Discoverer-39 launch (with the missing cancel date repaired: the date "17" in the cancel has been added in a bigger font than what was used in the original cancel) |
| Discoverer (on other than Discoverer launch covers) | ||||
| United States | 1962-02-21 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Holden black and magenta rubber-stamnp and black typed) cachet on P102-7151 launch cover | Not "Discoverer no.38" (as in text) |
| United States | 1962-04-28 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Sarzin) cachet on KH4-3 launch cover | Not "Discoverer" (as in text) |
| United States | 1963-06-26 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Sarzin) cachet on KH4-22 and Hitchhiker-1 launch cover | Not "Discoverer" (as in text) |
| United States | 1963-11-27 | Vandenberg AFB, CA | (Sarzin) cachet on KH4-25 launch cover | Not "Discoverer" (as in text) |
| Norway | 1968-09-20 | Andenes | (Black printed) cachet on Nike-Tomahawk (sub-orbital) rocket launch cover | Discoverer |
1Pioneer-5 and Explorer-6 were similar "paddlewheel" satellites. It is believed that Explorer-6 contained two short antennas on its "top", whereas Pioneer-5 contained only a single short antenna. When there are no antennas on top, the distinction is unclear, but of the two, Pioneer-5 is assumed.
2The AftRack ELINT (electronic intelligence) satellites were carried as payloads mounted on the aft rack of Agena launch rockets. They were deployed once the Agena was in orbit. The first one, AftRack-1 (also known as SocTop-1) was launched aboard an Agena-A rocket as part of the Discoverer-13 mission on 10 August 1960. The last one, AftRack-42 (also known as Donkey) was launched with two other satellites (Multigroup-2 and Setter-1B) aboard an Agena-D rocket on 25 July 1967. The various AftRack satellites had secondary names by which people who worked on the program apparently referred to them (a few examples: SocTop, TopSoc, Texas Pint, Wild Bill, Long John, Grape Juice, and Donkey).
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